Offseason%252525252520Leagues

One of the great things about following the minor leagues is watching a player finally put everything together. Roberto Perez was never a top prospect, but over the past year, he has improved to the point he is a legitimate major league player. Join Jim Piascik as he writes about Perez being at it again last night in Puerto Rico, Giovanny Urshela’s continued excellence, and much more as he takes you Around the Farm.

Right now, it seems there is nothing Giovanny Urshela cannot do. The third baseman may not have the first round pedigree or a massive signing bonus that typically gets national attention for a prospect, but Urshela continues to prove his worth on the field. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps another big night for Urshela in Venezuela as well as the rest of the action from across the globe as he takes you Around the Farm.

The countdown is on. At some point during the 2015 season, Indians shortstop and top prospect Francisco Lindor will make his long awaited Major League debut. The IBI's Tony Lastoria recently had a chance to sit down with Lindor to talk about his looming arrival in the big leagues, what he is doing to improve, get his thoughts on not getting a call to Cleveland and more.

To say that 2014 was not kind to outfielder Jordan Smith is an understatement. Smith was a top prospect in the Indians organization who struggled with the bat all season and is currently out in Arizona participating in the Arizona Fall League. The IBI's Tony Lastoria recently sat down with him to get his thoughts on his 2014 season and his preparations for next year.

A bunch of Cleveland’s prospects in the Arizona Fall League were in action Wednesday, with three pitchers taking the mound and two hitters in the lineup. A few performances were better than others, but overall, it was a very good night for Cleveland. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps all of the action from across the globe and takes you Around the Farm.

Back on July 12th the Indians made a small trade to acquire left-handed pitcher Nick Maronde from the Angels for cash. It was not a headline making trade, but it is one that could help the Indians pitching depth in 2015. After a tough year in the Angels system, he regrouped with the Indians this season and is pitching in the Arizona Fall League. The IBI's Tony Lastoria recently had a chance to sit down and talk to him about his season and his trade to the Indians...

The final two offseason leagues -- the Puerto Rican Winter League and the Australian Winter League -- both began play on Thursday, marking the first time every offseason league was in action this season. Cleveland had a couple prospects in action, but as he has all year, third baseman Giovanny Urshela stole the show. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps Urshela’s sustained dominance and the rest of the action from across the globe as he takes you Around the Farm.

Oh, the many fun things that can happen over small sample sizes. If we did not know any better, Jesus Aguilar’s 1-for-10 skid to start his time in the Venezuelan Winter League would be a concern. But after knocking a home run, a triple, and a single Monday night, Aguilar continued to show things are alright on Wednesday. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps Aguilar’s night and the rest of the action from across the globe as he takes you Around the Farm.

The Indians have had a boom in recent years with relief prospects who have impacted in Cleveland or who have established themselves as legit relief prospects. What once was a big issue for the organization with developing their own bullpen prospects has turned into a pretty steady stream of talent in the big leagues and upper levels. The IBI's Tony Lastoria recently sat down and spoke with another emerging bullpen prospect Louis Head who is pitching in the Arizona Fall League this offseason.

Another day, another set of Giovanny Urshela hits. The breakout 2014 season of Urshela just continues to roll on, with the third baseman destroying the pitching of the Venezuelan Winter League. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps yet another big Urshela night, discusses the winter ball debut of two prospects in the Dominican Republic, and much more as he takes you Around the Farm.

Here is a current listing of players from the Indians’ organization currently participating in winter ball this offseason. This is not a complete list as it will undoubtedly change over the course of winter ball as players finish up play and other players end up being assigned to a league.

Sometimes the significance of a performance goes beyond the numbers in the box score. That was the case for Yoiber Marquina Wednesday, as the 18-year-old made his offseason debut in Venezuela. While the inning he pitched was not clean, his presence on the mound itself means something. Join Jim Piascik as he breaks down Marquina’s appearance and the rest of the action from across the globe as he takes you Around the Farm.

In the early going of the offseason winter ball action it has been the Giovanny Urshela show, and once again his show took center stage on Monday with a big four-hit night. He's doing everything in his power to make it hard for the Indians not to give him a legit shot in Cleveland early on next season, and the IBI's Tony Lastoria talks about that and more...

The second week of the Arizona Fall League season wraps up this weekend. Several Indians prospects are out in Arizona participating in the high exposure offseason league, and one player in particular who is looking to continue his success from the 2014 season and have a good showing is right-handed reliever Grant Sides. The IBI's Tony Lastoria recently spoke with him out in Arizona...

We have no way of knowing the future, but right now, it looks like the 2014 season may become known among Cleveland fans as the year Giovanny Urshela solidified himself as a major league option and long-term solution for the organization. The third baseman started that process during the regular season, but he has not let up on it in winter ball. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps Urshela’s night and the rest of the action from across the globe as he takes you Around the Farm.

Baseball in the offseason leagues kept chugging along Wednesday night, with most of the familiar faces from the past week or so in action. Though there were no truly standout performances, the theme of the night was redemption, with a pair of Arizona Fall League pitchers rebounding from rough outings. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps all the action from across the globe and takes you Around the Farm.

Though his 2014 season may have disappointed a bit, Carlos Moncrief is doing his best to erase that down in the Venezuelan Winter League. It may only be three games, but so far, Moncrief is simply on fire. Join Arthur Kinney as he recaps Moncrief's big night, Giovanny Urshela continuing to hit, and all the action from across the globe as he takes you Around the Farm.

The Venezuelan Winter League got underway last night, the first international winter ball league in action. A few Cleveland players (past and present) were in action, but none topped what Francisco Lindor did in the Arizona Fall League, as the shortstop put on a show. Join Jim Piascik as he recaps all the action from across the globe on Thursday and takes you Around the Farm.

Night two in the Arizona Fall League lost a bit of its glamour with Francisco Lindor sitting on the bench, but that did not mean the night was boring. We all know Jordan Smith’s previous problems with power, but that was not present Wednesday. Join Jim Piascik as he breaks down Smith’s power outburst and much more as he takes you Around the Farm.

Here are the final winter ball statistics for all Cleveland Indians players that participated in fall/winter ball action out in the Arizona Fall League, Australian Baseball League, Dominican Winter League, Puerto Rico Winter League and Venezuela Winter League during the 2013-2014 offseason. There are different stats than you will see anywhere else as they include all playoff stats!

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!